Illingworth & Gregory (I&G) has completed refurbishment works to extend the Emergency Department and Adult Majors Unit at Barnsley Hospital to allow more capacity to treat patients.
The works follow the recent completion of the Children's Emergency Department and Assessment Unit which form part of Barnsley Hospital NHS Foundation Trust’s investment in a series of improvements across its Gawber Road site in Barnsley.
Alison Fearns, the Trust’s Project manager, said: “Completion of the refurbishment and expansion of the Emergency Department and Adult Majors Unit is yet another key milestone in our wider programme to transform how we deliver services. Phase 3 provides the Emergency Department with an additional nine cubicles, including one as an assessment hub where the former ambulance entrance once was. This new department will massively improve our patients experience.”
Phase three works included the strip-out of the area and a new layout to accommodate improved nursing stations, new mechanical, ventilation, and electrical installations, and data systems. I&G managing director, Sean Henderson, added: “Although this phase has been a lot shorter in duration than phase two, it has been far more challenging, due to the clinical services around the area also being under refurbishment. We have also faced logistical challenges, having to work adjacent to the existing busy Emergency Department, which has remained operational throughout. This has meant that a lot of works have had to be undertaken outside normal working hours to reduce any impact on the department.
“The team has adapted extremely well, and overcome any obstacles with great professionalism; testament to the relationship the I&G team has already built with the Trust and clinicians so far. Further works on the MRI, CT, SAU and AMAC areas are well under way, and due to be completed in the next few weeks. I would like to thank everyone involved, and am proud to move forward onto the next phase with the same dedicated team.”
The next stage of the project includes refurbishment and conversion works to enable the Trust’s Surgical Assessment Unit and Acute Medical Assessment Unit to relocate closer together.
Richard Jenkins, Chief Executive of Barnsley Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, added:
“Our Paediatric ED has been completely transformed, and is virtually unrecognisable compared to how it was before. The team moving in next week marks the closure of our £3.9 million investment into a project to build the Children’s Emergency Department and Assessment Unit – an incredible achievement considering the circumstances.”
